A sector undergoing transformation: A Downloadable version of the Statement is available below

Kampala, 25th May 2020. Hon. Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja accompanied by Hon. Bright Rwamirama the Minister of State for Animal Industry and Mr. Pius Wakabi Kasajja the Permanent Secretary presented this progress report.

An excerpt from the report indicates that the 2014 Population and Housing Census figures indicated that close to 80% of the households in the country are involved in agriculture. The sector contribution to the national economy still remains strong. Between FY 2015/16 and FY 2018/29, the sector contribution to national GDP averaged 23.7%.

During this period, the sector annual growth rate rose from 2.8% to 5%. The country is therefore on the right course towards archiving the targeted 6% annual growth rate in the Maputo/Malabo declaration undertaking. The value of agriculture exports increased from USD 1.326 billion to USD 1.5 billion representing a growth of 20% in the past four financial years.

Maize

Government of Uganda prioritized Maize due to its high potential for food security and contribution to national export earnings. The production of maize over the past four years has increased by 85% from 2.6 million MT in 2016 to 5 million MT in 2019. The volume of maize exports has also increased by 6% from 750,000 MT in 2016 to 278,693 MT in 2019 while the value of exports has increased by 12% from USD 84.99 million in 2016 to USD 95.48 million in 2019. The improved performance along the maize value chain is attributed mainly to distribution of seed by government, increased adoption of improved maize varieties by farmers, increased value addition by private sector and increased vigilance by Government to control pests and diseases

Coffee

Coffee is the principal export for Uganda. Coffee production has increased by 56% from 4.46 million (60kg) bags in FY 2015/16 to 6.950 million (60 kg) bags in FY 2018/19. The volume of coffee exported also increased by 17% from 3.56 million (60 kg) bags in FY 2015/16 to 4.17 million (60 kg) bags in FY 2018/19 while the value of exports has increased by 18% from USD 351.53 million in FY 2015/16 to USD 416.2 million in FY 2018/19. The increase in production and export volumes is attributed to the long-standing replanting program that has been ongoing over the last 10 years to replace the stock lost to Coffee Wilt Disease and national plan to increase production from the current 4 million to 20 million bags by 2025.

Coffee agro-processing is on the rise, with the last year witnessing an increase of 30 coffee processing hullers (from 548 in FY 2017/28 to 578 in FY 2018/19); an increase of 6 coffee roasters (from 17 in FY 2017/18 to 23 in FY 2018/19); and, an increase of 12 export grading plants (from 24 in FY 2017/18 to 36 in FY 2018/19).

During the past four financial years, government through UCDA has distributed 582,995,184 coffee seedlings to coffee farming households across the five regions of the country. These efforts have increased coffee production by 56% from 4.46 million (60kg) bags in FY 2015/16 to 6.950 million (60 kg) bags in FY 2018/19. The volume of coffee exported also increased by 17% from 3.56 (60 kg) bags in FY 2015/16 to 4.17 million (60 kg) bags in FY 2018/19.

Cassava

Cassava was identified as one of the most important crops in the and our research shows that Uganda can produce more of various products including flour, animal feed, alcohol, starches for sizing paper and textiles among others. The Ministry has therefore strategically developed programs to promote research into high yielding and climate resilient varieties which are now being disseminated in the areas with the best production potential.

The Ministry through the NAADS/OWC programme provided support to both small holders and commercial cassava farmers in more than 60 district local governments that prioritized cassava. A total of 793,223 bags of cassava cuttings were distributed. These interventions have led to a 131% increase in cassava production from 3 million MT in FY 2015/16, to 7 million MT in FY 2018/19.

Cotton

The Ministry has continued to promote cotton growing in order to sustain the country’s textile industries and for export of yarn. These efforts have resulted into a 25% increase in production from 151,081 (185 kg) bales of lint in 2016/17 to 189,443 (185 kg) bales of lint in FY 2018/19. Lint exports also increased by 8% from 167,542 (185 kg) bales of lint valued at USD 48.3 million in 2016/17 to 180,290 (185 kgs) bales of lint valued at USD 54.26 million in FY 2018/19

Cotton value addition is also increasing, with six cotton wool manufacturing firms fully operational and producing absorbent surgical cotton wool and Mama Kits from locally grown cotton. These directly employ about 300 people and produce over 700 Mt of surgical cotton wool annually.

Also, nine oil mills have been established and produce edible oil, cotton seed cake and soap stock from cotton seed. These directly employ a total of about 600 people and produce a combined total of over 2,000 Mt of edible oil and approximately 12,000 Mt of cotton seed cake used in animal feeds annually.

Fruits and vegetables

For the last four years, the production of fruits and vegetables has increased. Government is also setting up fruit factories across the country including the Soroti fruit factory, a Mango processing factory in Yumbe district (6 MT per hour capacity), a multi fruit factory in Nwoya district in partnership with M/s Alvan Blanch – a UK Company (12 MT per hour capacity), a multi – fruit processing plant in Kapeeka (6 MT per hour capacity) and, a pineapple processing plant in Kayunga district (0.5 MT per hour capacity). There has also been a 20% increase in export volumes of fruits and vegetables from 57,358 MT in 2015 to 68,862 MT in 2019 while the export values have increased by 13% from USD 32.1 million in 2015 to USD 36.1 million in 2019. 

Dairy

The Ministry has continued to prioritize dairy which has resulted into improved performance along the dairy value chain. Milk production increased from 2.08 billion litres in 2015/16 to 2.51 billion litres in 2018/19. The volume of marketed milk has been maintained at 80 % between 2015 and 2019. The country has about 355 Milk Collection Centers (MCCs) with a total capacity of 1.5 million litres. The export value of milk and milk products has increased by 310% from USD 50 million in 2015 to USD 205 million in 2019. The exports were mainly UHT milk, milk powder, casein protein, ghee and butter oil.

Tea

The Ministry continues to implement its strategy of ensuring increased tea production in the traditional tea growing areas and in the new ones. The production of tea increased by 19% from 67,000MT in the FY 2015/16 to 79,466 MT in FY 2018/19. In addition, the volume of exports increased by 34% from 54,898 MT worth USD 74.5 million in FY 2015/16 to 73,580 MT worth USD. 89 million. This has stimulated establishment of 6 new tea factories from 27 to 33 factories creating employment and increasing household income.

Fish

Over the past 4 years, there has been a general increase in fish stocks across all the major water bodies mainly as a result of increased enforcement on the water bodies. This has resulted into a 43% increase in fish catch from 391,260 MT in 2016 to 561,065 MT in 2019 and in effect, resulted in the re-opening of 4 fish factories, and a 50% increase in the volumes of fish exports, from 19,546 MT in 2016 to 29,263 MT in 2019. The value of fish exports has also increased by 38% from USD 164 million in 2016 to USD 227 million in 2019.

Oil palm

The Government efforts to reduce importation of crude palm oil continue to yield good returns with an increase in production of oil palm fresh fruit bunches and incomes earned by the farmers. The oil palm harvests increased from 37,802 MT valued at UGX 21.4 billion in FY 2017/18 to 44,221 MT valued at UGX 21.1 billion in FY 2018/19. The reduction in value was a result of lower average prices than those of FY 2017/18. The oil palm households with mature gardens in Kalangala earn an average of USD 4,676 each year and are already in the middle-income bracket. The palm oil enterprise in Kalangala produced over 40,000 MT of crude palm oil in 2019 which saved the country USD 23 million.

Beans

Beans remains another important food crop, grown by households all over the country with high potential for increasing household incomes. Over the last four years, the Ministry has distributed a total of 7,086,504 kgs of bean seed to smallholder farmers in all district local governments that prioritized beans in the past four years.

Cocoa

Cocoa is ranked among the high value export commodities that offer great economic opportunities for increasing farmers’ incomes and foreign exchange earnings for the country.

The Government has distributed a total of 21,526,743 cocoa seedlings to both small holders and commercial farmers in district local governments that prioritize cocoa production in the past four years. Due to this intervention cocoa export volume have increased by 19% from 29,761 MT in FY 2015/16 to 35,318 MT in FY 2018/19 while the value of our cocoa exports increased by 3% from USD 75 million to USD 78 million in the reporting period.  

Water for Agricultural Production

The Ministry has developed an irrigation policy and was approved by Cabinet which provides a regulatory framework for the private and public investments, defines the roles of MAAIF and MWE in irrigation. Government has continued to invest in the construction of irrigation schemes. Five irrigation schemes that were highlighted last year will soon be completed. These are Torchi, Ngenge, Mobuku ll, Doho ll and Wadelai is ongoing, with the progress as follows: Tochi (500 ha in Oyam District) – 72.3%; Ngenge (880 ha in Kween District) at 90%; Mubuku II (480 ha in Kasese District) at 68%; and, Doho II (1,178 ha in Butaleja District) at 85%; and Wadelai (1,000 ha Pakwach/ Nebbi) at 29%. The schemes will greatly contribute to increased production of rice, aquaculture and horticulture (fruits and vegetables).

In addition, in FY 2018/19, detailed engineering designs were completed for Sironko/Acomai irrigation Scheme in Bukedea District (1,480ha and 1,600 households are targeted); Atari Irrigation scheme in Kween/Bulambuli District (680ha and 2,667 households targeted); and Namatala Irrigation Scheme in Budaka/ Mbale/ Butaleja District (3,450 ha and 4,923 households targeted).

Agricultural Mechanization

The Government is constructing 4 regional mechanization centers in Buwama – Mpigi district (Central Region), Agwata – Dokolo district (Northern Region), Kiryandongo district and Mbale district. The regional mechanization centers will decentralize the irrigation and water for agriculture production services. The centers will be managed by a Senior Engineer who will work with a Mechanical Engineer, an Irrigation Engineer and a Civil Engineer.

The centers will be equipped with tractors and maintenance tools/ mobile workshops. The centers will also be responsible for maintaining Government tractors and repair/ maintenance of privately owned tractors in the district at cost recovery basis. The establishment of the centers was phased and by December 2019, Buwama was at 60% completion while Agwata was at 50% completion.

The Hon. Minister’s Statement is available here:

Notes for editors

About the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)

The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries is a Ministry in the Government of Uganda charged with creating an enabling environment in the Agricultural Sector.

The Ministry formulates, reviews and implement national policies, plans, strategies, regulations and standards and enforce laws, regulations and standards along the value chain of crops, livestock and fisheries.

Vision: A competitive, profitable and sustainable agricultural sector.

Mission: To transform subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.

Strategic Objectives

• To initiate the formulation and review of the policy and legal framework for the sector
• To establish and implement systems for service provision in the sector
• To strengthen and implement strategies, regulatory framework, standards, institutional structures and infrastructure for quality assurance and increased quantities of agricultural products to access and sustain local, regional and export markets
• To design and implement sustainable capacity building programmes for stakeholders in the agricultural sector through training, re-tooling, infrastructure, provision of logistics and ICT
• To develop strategies for sustainable food security
• To develop appropriate agricultural technologies for improved agricultural production, productivity and value addition through research
• To develop effective collaborative mechanisms with affiliated institutions and
• To take lead and establish a system and institutional framework for agricultural data collection, analyses, storage and dissemination to stakeholders including Uganda Bureau of Statistics.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) is made up of four Directorates including the Directorate of Crop Resources, Directorate of Animal Resources, Directorate of Agricultural Extension Services and the Directorate of Fisheries Resources each with Departments, Divisions and Partnership Projects.

The Departments of the Ministry which do not fall directly in the above include the Department of Agricultural Planning and Development, the Human Resource Department, the Department of Finance and Administration and the Department of Agricultural Infrastructure, Mechanisation and Water for Agricultural Production.

The Ministry is also made up of seven Agencies including the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), Cotton Development Organisation (CDO), Dairy Development Authority (DDA), Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and Coordinating Office for the Control of Trypanosomiasis in Uganda (COCTU) and the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Databank (NAGRC&DB).